Guimaras can be role model of food sufficiency — Isko

JORDAN, Guimaras — For presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno, Guimaras may be a role model for food sufficiency in the Philippines.

“Nakakatuwa na ang isang isla katulad ng Guimaras, nagpapadala pa ng pagkain sa labas ng isla. So ibig sabihin, magandang maging modelo ang Guimaras sa food suffiency,” he said in an ambush interview here.

“They produce their own rice. In fact, sobra pa. They reserve for the summer tapos nagpapadala pa sila sa Iloilo. So that’s one. Food basket, proper zoning, meron silang eco-zone, gateway zone, food basket zone, and tourism zone,” he added.

Further, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer said the province also produces its own electricity.

“Tapos they produce their own electricity through renewable energy, no? Nasu-sustain nila ‘yung kanilang utilities. Fourth, dalawang magandang high value crop, kasoy at mangga,” he said.

Moreno expressed hope that if Guimaras is able to sustain itself, other similar islands may be able to as well.

“If Guimaras can do it, I think it can be duplicated in other island same like this. Food sufficiency, high-value crop, energy, tapos nakita ko kanina magagandang eskwelahan nandito rin,” he said.

Meanwhile, asked why he chose to campaign in Guimaras despite the province only having around 119,000 registered voters last elections, Moreno said he and running mate Willie Ong wanted to express the importance of every province and municipality.

“Eh, wala naman yatang pumapansin sa kanila, eh ako naman gusto ko maramdaman nila, maliit, malaki, pupuntahan natin hangga’t kayang puntahan,” he said.

(There seems to be nobody noticing them. So I want them to feel that no matter how small, big [the population is], we will go to them.)

‘Yung gusto naming maiparamdam ni Doc Willie at ng mga kasama, ‘yung halaga ng bawat munisipalidad, bawat probinsya, bundok ng tralala, isla. Alam mo ‘yung kung gusto ko ngayon pa lang nakikita na nila na porsigido kaming abutin sila,” he added.

The Manila mayor also said he will look into the proposed Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge.

“We’ll see about it, we’ll see about it. Anything that will develop, connect our islands not only for Guimaras and Iloilo. Maybe other islands also. As I have said with Bohol, Mactan, Lapu-Lapu to Cebu, marami kasi island na pwede naman,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News